Desert Party (Street Cry {Ire}), who fetched $2.1 million from Darley earlier this year at Fasig-Tipton Calder, splashed his way home to a decisive 3 1/4-length victory over Officer Ipod (Officer) in yesterday's GII Sanford S. at the Spa. Tabbed as a "TDN Rising Star" following his eye-catching unveiling at Arlington Park June 22, he lined up as the heavy favorite in this field of four. Ridden by Edgar Prado, the bay pressed the early leader Officer Ipod from the inside through an opening quarter of :22.78. Desert Party dropped back to trail the field approaching the turn for home after Prado slightly tapped on the breaks, but it didn't seem to make a difference, as he re-rallied along the fence in the stretch to report home a much-the-best winner.
Thursday, Saratoga Race Course
SANFORD S.-GII, $142,500, SAR, 7-24, 2yo, 6f, 1:12 1/5, my.
1--#@DESERT PARTY, 119, c, 2, by Street Cry (Ire)
        1st Dam: Sage Cat, by Tabasco Cat
        2nd Dam: Lady Sage, by Lord Gaylord
        3rd Dam: Foxcroft Finale, by Real Value
($425,000 yrl '07 KEESEP; $2,100,000 2yo ‘08 FTFFEB). O-Darley Stable; B-David Smith & Steven Sinatra (KY); T-Eoin G Harty; J-Edgar S Prado; $90,000. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $106,800. *1/2 to Elliecat (Crafty Prospector), SW, $190,646. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report and 5-cross pedigree.
2--Officer Ipod, 119, c, 2, Officer--Ms. C D Player, by Boca Rio. O-Stuart Grant; B-The Elkstone Group LLC (PA); T-Anthony W Dutrow; $30,000.
3--Vineyard Haven, 119, c, 2, Lido Palace (Chi)--Princess Aloha, by Aloha Prospector. O-Frankel, Robert, J, Lazzinnaro, Louis, Diamond Pride LLC; B-Lynne M Scace (FL); T-Robert J Frankel; $15,000.
Margins: 3 1/4, 3/4, 5 3/4. Odds: 0.95, 4.10, 1.95.
Also Ran: Phosphorescent. Scratched: Dagnabit, Notonthesamepage, Bullion Cache. Click for the brisnet.com chart, the brisnet.com PPs or the free brisnet.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Taylor Made.
   

STAR S.-Listed, £30,000, Sandown Park, 7-24, 2yo, f, 7f 16yT, 1:28.25, gd/fm.
1--#HONEST QUALITY, 124, f, 2, by Elusive Quality
        1st Dam: Honest Lady (MGISW, $894,168), by Seattle Slew
        2nd Dam: Toussaud, by El Gran Senor
        3rd Dam: Image of Reality, by In Reality
O-Khalid Abdullah; B-Juddmonte Farms; T-Henry Cecil; J-Ted Durcan; £17,031. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-1, £24,310. *1/2 to First Defence (Unbridled's Song), GSW, $376,534; Phantom Rose (Danzig), SP-Fr. Werk Nick Rating: B+. Click for the eNicks report and 5-cross pedigree.
2--Beat Seven (GB), 124, f, 2, Beat Hollow (GB)--Twenty Seven (Ire), by Efisio (GB). (10,000gns yrl ‘07 TATOCT). £6,456.
3--Touching (Ire), 124, f, 2, Kheleyf--Feminine Touch (Ire), by Sadler's Wells. (34,000gns wnlg ‘06 TATDEC; 31,000gns yrl ‘07 TATOCT; 45,000gns 2yo ‘08 TATGNS). £3,231.
Margins: HD, 4HF, 1. Odds: 6-4, 8-1, 7-1.
Also Ran: Spanish Cygnet, Solo Attempt (GB), Maid for Music (Ire), Shaws Diamond, Isabella Grey (GB).
  Shaping with promise when third on debut at Newmarket May 16, Honest Quality duly obliged in similar company at York May 31 and continued on an upward curve with a determined effort to earn a first black-type badge in this stakes bow. Trapped along the rail in fifth through the early fractions, she angled outside for her bid in early stretch and answered every call under a power drive inside the final quarter mile to repel the late thrust of Beat Seven. "She's got one of the greatest pedigrees in the stud book and it's got a little bit better today," claimed racing manager Teddy Grimthorpe. "Her mother was very fast and finished second in a [GI] Breeders' Cup Sprint. She just about gets the seven [furlongs] so we'll have to talk with [trainer] Henry [Cecil] and see what he thinks, but an easy seven or a stiff six is more her trip at the moment. She's quite a neat type, but there's plenty of her so I don't see why she won't go on." Click for the Racing Post chart. Video courtesy of attheraces

TYROS S.-G3, €70,000, Leopardstown, 7-24, €70,000, 2yo, 7fT, 1:30.72, gd/fm.
1--RIP VAN WINKLE (IRE), 127, c, 2, by Galileo (Ire)
        1st Dam: Looking Back (Ire), by Stravinsky
        2nd Dam: Mustique Dream (GB), by Don't Forget Me (Ire)
        3rd Dam: Jamaican Punch (Ire), by Shareef Dancer
(€170,000 yrl ‘07 ITYSEP). O-Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; B-Roberto Brogi; T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Johnny Murtagh; €45,570. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, €58,590. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report and 5-cross pedigree.
2--Cuis Ghaire (Ire), 127, f, 2, Galileo (Ire)--Scribonia (Ire), by Danehill. O-Mrs J S Bolger; B/T-Jim Bolger; €14,000.
3--Vilasol (Ire), 127, c, 2, Verglas (Ire)--Pitrizza (Ire), by Machiavellian. (€68,000 wnlg ‘06 GOFNOV; 47,000gns yrl ‘07 TATOCT). O-P O'Grady; B-Patrick F Kelly; T-Kevin Prendergast; €7,000.
Margins: 1 1/4, 1HF, 3HF. Odds: 11-8, 8-11, 14-1.
Also Ran: Lac a Dancer (Ire).
   Despite losing out by a short head to Tomas an Tsioda (Ire) on debut, Rip van Winkle was awarded the race after being hampered by that rival in the closing stages. Building on the promise of that effort, the bay was delivered from rear under a hand ride to inhale Cuis Ghaire with a furlong remaining and assert for a comfortable success. Click for the Racing Post chart. Video courtesy of attheraces.
   

7th-SAR, $71,000, Alw, Opt. Clm. ($75,000), NW3X, 3yo/up, 6 1/2f, 1:17, sy.
1--VISIONAIRE, 115, c, 3, Grand Slam--Scarlet Tango (SP), by French Deputy. ($300,000 yrl '06 FTSAUG; $220,000 2yo 2007 OBSJUN). O-Team Valor International & Vision Racing LLC; B-Reiley McDonald (KY); T-Michael R Matz. Lifetime Record: GSW, 9-4-1-2, $312,287.
2--Knights Cross, 123, c, 4, Thunderello--Golden Gale, by Summer Squall.
3--Out of Gwedda, 120, c, 4, Out of Place--Gwedda, by Gone West. ($52,000 yrl '05 KEESEP; $100,000 2yo ‘06 OBSMAR).
Margins: 1, NK, HD. Odds: 2.45, 3.35, 8.80.
   Visionaire earned his way onto the Triple Crown trail with a 5 1/2-length allowance win at Gulfstream Jan. 4, then ran a good third to Pyro in the GIII Risen Star S. in New Orleans Feb. 9. A nose winner of the GIII Gotham BC S. Mar. 8, the chestnut was a decent fifth in the GI Toyota Blue Grass S. Apr. 12, but could do no better than 12th in the GI Kentucky Derby. Most recently an even third in the GIII Northern Dancer S. at Churchill June 14, he was getting blinkers for his Spa debut. Last down the backstretch as a three horses scrimmaged on the front end, Visionaire was last to make the Saratoga stretch, but kicked it in leaving the eighth pole and got through inside Knights Cross for the win. Video, sponsored by Taylor Made.   

Wednesday, Saratoga Race Course
SCHUYLERVILLE S.-GIII, $112,900, SAR, 7-23, 2yo, f, 6f, 1:12 3/5, sy.
1--#@JARDIN, 119, f, 2, by Montbrook
        1st Dam: Unlimited Pleasure (SP), by Valid Appeal
        2nd Dam: Cricket Box, by Notebook
        3rd Dam: Patsy's Lil Girl, by *Roi Dagobert
($425,000 2yo ‘08 OBSFEB). O-Padua Stables; B-Ocala Stud Farm (FL); T-Steven M Asmussen; J-R J Albarado; $67,740. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $87,270. *Full to Beacon Shine, GSW, $106,530. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Werk Nick Rating: A+.
2--Cameron Crazies, 119, f, 2, Lion Heart--D Hail Mary, by Defensive Play. ($125,000 yrl '07 OBSAUG). O-Robert M Hurley; B-Majestic Farms LLC (FL); T-D Wayne Lukas; $22,580.
3--Girlfrienontheside, 119, f, 2, Indian Charlie--Refrain, by Unbridled's Song. ($50,000 yrl '07 KEESEP). O-Michael Dubb & Park Avenue Racing Stables; B-Dr Robert Fishman (KY); T-Anthony W Dutrow; $11,290.
Margins: 4, NO, 1 1/4. Odds: 12.20, 22.50, 15.00.
Also Ran: Collegiate, Renda, Chartreux, Boom Town Sally, Ouchy Night, Ocean Colors.  Scratched: Mani Bhavan, Mine All Mine.
    Bred by Michael O'Farrell's Ocala Stud from a half-sister to GISW Outofthebox, Jardin was sent through the ring at this year's OBS February Sale and was knocked down to Satish Sanan's Padua Stables for $425,000 after breezing a quarter-mile in a swift :21.2. Brought along in a typically steady manner by Asmussen, the bay was no secret at 3-2 for her June 22 debut at Churchill Downs and lived up to her advanced billing, tracking the pace three wide before pulling away late to score by three lengths. A descendant of prominent mud influences Buckaroo and In Reality, she figured to love Wednesday's off going, but was let go at juicy odds of 12-1. Ocean Colors, the daughter of GI Kentucky Derby winner Winning Colors, was a bit fractious in the stalls and bobbled slightly at the break, but recovered to set the pace in advance of Cameron Crazies while Jardin monitored the proceedings while trapped out four deep. About the same time the front-runner was hoisting the white flag, her stablemate was staying on and took aim at Cameron Crazies as they raced to the eighth pole. Jardin asserted under hand encouragement from Albarado and was going away late. Girlfrienontheside closed well from fourth to earn the show spot. "I was concerned with Jardin being on the outside," Asmussen admitted. "As the day went on, it looked like that's where she needed to be. She was comfortable the whole way." Of the beaten favorite, he added, "like she's going to be fine. She was tying up a bit. We want to make sure she gets back okay." The winner is likely to make her next start in the GI Spinaway S. Aug. 31. Click for the brisnet.com chart or the brisnet.com PPs. Video, sponsored by Taylor Made.  

Wednesday, Vichy, France
GRAND PRIX DE VICHY-AUVERGNE-G3, €80,000, Vichy, 7-23, 3yo/up, 1 1/4mT, 2:05.45, sf.
1--@HAPSBURG (FR), 124, f, 4, by Anabaa
1st Dam: Magical Hawk, by Silver Hawk
2nd Dam: Sum, by Spectacular Bid
3rd Dam: Qui Royalty, by Native Royalty
(€100,000 yrl ‘05 DEAAUG). O-Jean Luck; B-Mickael
M Kelly; T-Eric Libaud; J-Ioritz Mendizabal; €40,000.
Lifetime Record: 12 starts, 3 wins, 9 places,
€136,200. Werk Nick Rating: C. Click for the
eNicks report and 5-cross pedigree.
2--Kocab (GB), 128, h, 6, Unfuwain--Space Quest (GB),
by Rainbow Quest. O-Khalid Abdullah; B-Juddmonte
Farms; T-Andre Fabre; €16,000.
3--Boris de Deauville (Ire), 128, h, 5, Soviet Star--
Logjam (Ire), by Royal Academy. O-Mme Magalen
Bryant & Laurent Haegel; B-Petra Bloodstock Agency
Ltd; T-Stephane Wattel; €12,000.
Margins: SNK, 1, 1HF. Odds: 24.00, 1.10, 3.60.
Also Ran: Daly Daly (Fr), Diyakalanie (Fr), Aspectus (Ire) & Willywell (Fr), La Boum (Ger).
   Hapsburg registered an upset under the floodlights when denying Kocab to add this prestigious prize to her previous stakes score in Longchamp's Listed Prix de Liancourt in September. Fourth after that effort in the G3 Prix de Flore at Saint-Cloud the following month, the bay returned to be fifth in the G3 Prix Allez France at Chantilly Apr. 29 and fourth again on her latest outing in the May 29 G2 Prix Corrida back at Saint-Cloud. Arriving with a flourish from rear to lead approaching the eighth pole, she dug in to ward off the favorite's threat in the drive to the line. Hapsburg's second dam is U.S. graded stakes winner Sum, a half-sister to English juvenile champ Bakharoff and Group 2 winner Emperor Jones. Click for the Racing Post chart.
   

2nd-SAR, $62,000, Msw, 2yo, 5 1/2f, 1:05, sy.
COGNITO (c, 2, Langfuhr--Coral Sea, by Rubiano), a May 22 foal, brought $135,000 as a yearling at KEESEP, but his maturity over the winter, coupled with the emergence of his half-brother Cool Coal Man (Mineshaft), GSW, $349,531, saw him top KEEAPR's opening session at $700,000. The grey debuted with a second to subsequent stakes winner Proud Jefe at Churchill June 27, and that experience saw him go postward as the 6-5 chalk in this sloppy affair. Breaking from the rail, the Stonestreet colorbearer came away smoothly to hold a narrow advantage over Gone Astray (Dixie Union) and Brave Victory (Lion Heart). The favorite shook loose in the lane, but dug in late to deny a resurgent Brave Victory by a half-length as Gone Astray rounded out the triple 2 3/4 lengths behind the top two. Hailing from the family of champions Storm Bird and Northernette, Cognito is also a half-brother to Kathleens Reel (Lemon Drop Kid), SW & MGSP, $192,709. His dam has a yearling Mineshaft colt and foaled a Pleasantly Perfect filly this season. The Zayat entry of Pious David (Aldebaran) and Zensational (Unbridled's Song) was scratched. Click for the brisnet.com chart. Video, sponsored by Taylor Made. Lifetime Record: 2-1-1-0, $45,480.
O-Stonestreet Stables LLC. B-W S Farish, EJ Hudson Jr Irrevocable Trust, et al (KY). T-Steven M Asmussen.
   

The daylong rains at Saratoga Wednesday have forced the cancellation of the four turf races scheduled for today's live program. This includes the first steeplechase race of the meet, which has been rescheduled and will be contested as the first race of the July 30 program. Because the steeplechase race was carded as today's first race, live racing will begin at 1:30 p.m. In 2007, all but six of the races scheduled for the turf were run on that surface.